Charter School Board Training

The New York City Charter School Center partnered with the SUNY Charter School Institute, the NYSED Charter School Office and the NYC DOE Office of School Design and Charter Partnerships to host a three-part series of events for charter school board members.

2017-18 Board Training Series

Part I - Recruiting & Training Successful New Board Members (October 16, 2017) Building the network and protocols to find members to complement your boardPresented by Shereen Williams, Charter Board Partners

Part II - Using Student Data in Academic Oversight (November 14, 2017)Relevance and analysis of student data for the greatest insight into your school’s performance Presented by Jen Pasek, Director of Accountability and School Data, Pasek Consulting, LLC Erin Cochran, Director, Analytics and Data Management, NYC DOE Office of School Design and Charter PartnershipsKatie Doctor, Director of Data and Assessment at DREAM Charter School

Part III - Development for Charter School Boards (January 16, 2018) Making fundraising an integral part of every board member’s role Presented by Richmond Rabinowitz, Rabinowitz Partners, LLC

Part IV - Evaluating the CEO or Principal (March 20, 2018) Tools for analyzing academic data and teacher evaluation systems to appraising the performance of the head-of-school. Presented by Deborah Redmond, Soho Strategies

Part V - Financial Oversight and the Audit Process (May 15, 2018) A look at the audit process and revising the budget for the next school year. Presented by Raj Thakkar, Founder and CEO of Charter School Business Management Michelle Cain, Partner at Mengel, Metzger, Barr, and Co. and Gus Saliba, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies

2016-17 Board Training Series

Part I – What is good charter school board governance? A thorough review of the basics of oversight and applicable laws. Presented by SUNY Charter School Institute

Part II – How do boards ensure the school’s financial management systems are working? Does the school have “audit-proof” fiscal policies and procedures? Do they follow them? What do we learn from recent audit findings? Presented by John Tarvin, Claremont Consulting and Raj Thakkar, Charter School Business Management

Part III – What matters most in academic oversight and evaluating the school leader? Tools for analyzing academic data and teacher evaluation systems to appraising the performance of the head-of-school. Presented by Marci Cornell-Feist, Board On Track

Search All Resources

TitleContentYearresource_topic_hfilterresource_type_hfilterpublication_date_hfilter
Computer-Based Testing (CBT) FAQThe Charter Center has developed an extensive Computer-Based Testing (CBT) FAQ resource specifically designed to tackle frequently asked questions concerning CBT. In the dynamic realm …academics-testing2023
Computer-Based Testing TimelineIn the rapidly changing landscape of education, particularly in the realm of computer-based testing, New York’s school leaders face the crucial task of ensuring the …academics-testing2023
Lottery Procedures and Best PracticesTo effectively run a school’s enrollment process, the lottery procedure is a crucial aspect that can be approached in numerous ways. The lottery process can …, student-enrollment-recruitment2022 2023
2022-23 COVID-19 Health Guidance, covid-19-eoeg-20222022 2023
Myths vs. Facts 2022, info2021 2022
Facilities Funding Fact Sheetfacilitiesinfo2024
2021-2022 Reopening Guidance, covid-19-eoeg2020 2021
Students in Temporary Housing: Students’ Rights and Schools’ ResponsibilitiesUnder the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the McKinney-Vento Act guarantees educational rights for students experiencing homelessness or residing in unstable housing situations. To ensure …laws-regulations new-school-development student-enrollment-recruitment2020
Moving In and Setting Up: Templates and Exemplarsfinancial-management new-school-developmentchecklist exemplar presentation template
Fiscal Decision Making: Staffing and Softwarefinancial-management new-school-developmentworksheet2020
Testing Accommodations for Students Identified as Multilingual Learners (MLLs)All current ELLs, as well as former ELLs for up to two years after exiting ELL status, are eligible for ELL testing accommodations in addition …ell-mll-educationinfo2020
Rent Lawsuit Dismissedfacilities laws-regulationsinfo2020
New York State Alternative Assessment (NYSAA)academics-testing special-educationreport2020
CREDO Study: Urban Charter Schools Outperform Traditional School Peers (March 2015)In 2015, the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) conducted a comprehensive study examining the performance of urban charter schools relative to traditional public …issues-research report2020
School Funding Comparisons by the NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO) (2010-11)financial-managementissues-research report2020
Sample Board Prospectus for a Proposed Charter Schoolleadership-governance new-school-developmentchecklist info2020
Charter School Board TrainingThe New York City Charter School Center partnered with the SUNY Charter School Institute, the NYSED Charter School Office and the NYC DOE Office of …financial-management leadership-governance new-school-developmentexemplars2020
Recruiting and Hiring Effective Teachers2020
Working with the Administration for Child Services (ACS)The Administration for Child Services (ACS) is working to build a stronger partnership with charter schools to support students in the child welfare program. ACS’s …health-safety operations-managementinfo2020
Charter School Legal Issues: “Friends Of” OrganizationsA “Friends of XYZ Charter School” organization is a separate, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that is created to raise funds, awareness and otherwise support a charter …laws-regulations leadership-governanceinfo2020
Parent Engagement HandbookParents play a vital role in a child’s life and education. It is important for parents to engage their child and build strong partnerships with …community-engagementreport2020
Operations Management: Navigating City and State SystemsWhether you are a new school or just new in your role, you need to navigate many New York City and New York State systems. …doe-systems operations-managementinfo2020
Understanding Your School Food OptionsThere are so many misconceptions about school lunch in the NYC charter sector. But not knowing how the various programs work could leave your scholars …new-school-development school-meals-transportationfaq info2020
New Provisions Passed In 2018-19 State Budget LegislationNew York State’s 2018-19 budget includes several budgetary items and a legislative amendment affecting charter schools in New York City. This memo provides details on …financial-management laws-regulationsissues-research2020
Governance: Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policies for Charter SchoolsAll charter schools must have a set of bylaws and conflict of interest policies that comply with New York law. When was the last time …laws-regulations leadership-governanceexemplar presentation2020
Accountability: Developing a Leadership DashboardA dashboard is an essential tool for charter school leaders and the board. This presentation will help you build a dashboard for your charter school.leadership-governancepresentation2020
The Facility Access Process: Co-Location and Private SpaceIn March 2014, state law was changed to grant a subset of NYC charter schools a statutory right to facilities assistance. Education Law §2853(3)). Charter …facilities laws-regulationsissues-research2021
ImmunizationCharter schools are required to comply with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health (DOH) in effect since September 1, 2016. In order …, , , doe-systems health-safety laws-regulationsexemplar faq guidebook2020 2021 2022 2023
What are Charters Schools – Resources2020
Finance Forms for Charter SchoolsCharter schools can use this set of templates from the New York City Charter School Center to create their own forms.  Included are templates for …financial-management new-school-development operations-managementform template2020
Employment Law 101Legal issues impact all stages of the hiring process. This presentation from the New York City Charter School Center in conjunction with McCarter and English …human-resources laws-regulations new-school-developmentpresentation2020
Creating Effective Community EngagementEngaging with the community is crucial for educational institutions, and the presentations below aim to equip schools with simple yet powerful tools to foster meaningful …community-engagement laws-regulations new-school-development student-enrollment-recruitmentissues-research2023
ATS Overview Developed by Charter School LeadersThis comprehensive guide, developed and originally presented by Rebecca Daverin of Explore Schools, is a great one-stop resource for the most useful ATS functions and …doe-systems operations-managementguidebook2020
MLL/ELL Identification ProcessIn today’s diverse educational landscape, catering to the diverse needs of students is paramount. Among these needs, supporting Multilingual Learners (MLL) or English Language Learners …ell-mll-education laws-regulations student-enrollment-recruitmentpresentation2020
Building a Charter School Founding BoardThe skills and dedication of the personnel who make up the founding charter school Board are essential for a new school’s success. These resources will …leadership-governance new-school-developmentchecklist guidebook template2020
SPED: Regulations and ProceduresThe Regulations of the Commissioner are available online. Part 200 is the law regulating special education in New York State. The Standard Operating Procedures Manual is a how-to guide explaining …laws-regulations special-educationguidebook2020
Board Assessment ToolThis assessment matrix aids in the assessment of a Charter School Board’s effectiveness.  Leadership Roles, Board Composition, Meetings and Committees are graded in three levels: …leadership-governanceinfo2020
Employee File Checklist TemplateThe employee file, or personnel file, contains a detailed record of every employment action and protocol. Employment files require precise measures and upkeep to ensure …human-resourcestemplate2020
Sample Board MinutesMeeting minutes are a formal recording of transactions that happened at a particular time and place. Minutes are a record of what was done at …leadership-governance new-school-developmentbest-practice exemplar2020
FAQs: Open Meetings LawDid you know that New York City charter schools are subject to the requirements of New York State’s Open Meetings Law (OML)? The OML is …community-engagement laws-regulations leadership-governance operations-managementfaq info2020
Family Handbook ExemplarsA family handbook provides charter school families with answers to their most common questions and helps to guide families and students in the school’s processes …new-school-development operations-managementexemplar2020
SPED: ATS Special Education ReportsThis ATS report manual guides readers through the most common special education reports that schools can run within ATS. OVERVIEW This manual is for veteran …doe-systems special-educationguidebook info report2020
OPT Request for Service ProcedureThis guide from the NYC DOE’s Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) pertains to procedures for requesting services.  Included in this guide are: A List of …doe-systems school-meals-transportationform guidebook2020
Operations Guide ExemplarSchool facility operations and maintenance exist to support the primary purpose of any school: quality learning. By maintaining a working Operations Guide for your school, …new-school-development operations-managementexemplar2020
Facilities: For Charters Co-Located in DOE BuildingsThe Co-Location Handbook” explores the practice of shared space in NYC Public Schools, aligned with the Education Department’s mission. Educators collaborate with stakeholders to improve …facilities leadership-governance operations-managementpresentation2020
Charter Management Organization GuideOf all the decisions made by new Charter Schools, few are more important than deciding whether to contract for school management services. Choosing well requires …leadership-governanceguidebook2020
Staff HandbookClear expectations promote strong performances. A comprehensive staff handbook is the best way to ensure all employees understand the professional standards and culture of the …human-resources laws-regulations operations-managementexemplar guidebook2020
SPED: CSE and ComplianceThe September 2010 presentation Common Coordination Issues, from the Brooklyn Charter School Student Support Agency, addresses common coordination issues facing schools with Special Education students. The …special-educationexemplar guidebook presentation2020
FUNDING: City Grants for Charter SchoolsEach year, the Borough Presidents’ offices and New York City Council members distribute millions of dollars in public funds through discretionary grant programs. Public schools …community-engagement financial-management policy-advocacypresentation2020
Student Recruitment: Enrollment Best PracticesHere you can find student enrollment templates and exemplars from your colleagues that are useful in the creation of a new school’s procedures or in …operations-management student-enrollment-recruitmenttemplate2020
Charter RenewalIn addition to hosting regular discussions with the authorizers, the Charter Center has collected these resources and exemplars to assist schools facing the complex project …leadership-governance ny-charter-authorizers operations-managementexemplar2020
Board PositionsUnderstanding the roles and responsibilities of board members is an important step in effective governance. These resources will help clarify what the board chair and …leadership-governancechecklist guidebook presentation2020
The Pupil Accounting HandbookThe NYC DOE handbook on Pupil Accounting for charter schools. Introduction: Introduction to Pupil Accounting; organizational tree of the Pupil Personnel Services Network. Admitting Students: …operations-management student-enrollment-recruitmentguidebook2020
ATS Training VideoWelcome to the world of ATS! This training video is a great one-stop resource for the most useful ATS functions and reports. It covers the …operations-managementpresentation2020
New York State Charter Schools Act of 1998 (as amended)New York State’s law on charter schools changed in important ways in April 2014 and May 2010. The Charter Center created a black-lined version of …laws-regulationsreport2020
High School Diploma InformationFor High Schools looking to order diplomas, please note that charter schools do not use the NYC DOE diploma. Since the State does not require …operations-managementfaq info template2020
Developing a Sound School BudgetThis presentation from the New York City Charter School Center explains the proper way to prepare a budget for a new charter school. All revenue …financial-management operations-managementpresentation template2020
NYSTL Purchasing in FAMISEach charter school receives a grant for textbooks, library books and software under the New York State Textbook Law (NYSTL). The grant is administered by …financial-management operations-managementinfo2020
NYC Charter School Operations CalendarCompiled by school staff across the sector, this worksheet provides an interactive checklist of major activities and deadlines that affect the operation of a charter …operations-managementinfo2017
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)The Dignity for All Students Act is a New York State law that aims to provide a safe and supportive educational environment for all students, …community-engagement laws-regulationsexemplars guidebook2020
Model Conflict of Interest PolicyModel policy on conflicts of interest, including exceptions to the law; express prohibitions; penalties; disclosure of interests.laws-regulations leadership-governanceexemplars2020
ATS for the Office of Pupil TransportationThis NYC DOE publication is a comprehensive guide to using ATS to manage transportation services. The guide contains an overview of OPT and ATS, key …doe-systems operations-managementguidebook2020
Operations Resource GuideThe DOE Charter Office put together an Operations Resource Guide to aide in the important end of year and start of the year tasks. It …doe-systems operations-managementguidebook2020
Employee BenefitsThese resources will help charter schools decide what employee benefits to offer, and ease the process of setting up benefit plans. Employee Benefits Charter Start …human-resourceschecklist exemplars presentation2020
Operations Brief: Frequently Asked Questions about the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)All New York charter schools are subject to the requirements of New York State’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). FOIL is a New York State law that …laws-regulations leadership-governance operations-managementfaq2020
Teacher Certification ResourcesThe Charter Center’s resources are compiled from NYSED and our experience assisting teachers to navigate the certification process. Schools participating in our Teacher Certification Program …human-resources laws-regulationspresentation
NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) ManualsThe NYC School Construction Authority (NYC SCA) has introduced a Safety Program & Procedures Manual to ensure safe practices in New York City school building …facilities operations-managementguidebook
Charter School Legal Guidance and ResourcesNew York State’s law on charter schools changed in important ways in the last five years. We have created a black-lined version of the Act that visually …laws-regulationsinformation issues-research
New Provisions Passed In 2019-20 State Budget LegislationNew York State’s 2019-20 budget includes several budgetary items and a legislative amendment affecting charter schools in New York City. This memo provides details on …financial-managementissues-research2020
Working Papers for StudentsStudents aged 14-17 who work part time, including summer employment, are required to have “employment certificates” (often called Working Papers) issued by the school. The …laws-regulations operations-managementform guidebook2020
DOH Posters & Flyers for Schoolscovid-19-eoeg2020
Health And Public Safety Guidance, , covid-19-eoeg2020 2021 2022
Governing Board Resources For Schoolscovid-19-eoeg2020
US DOE Guidance And Communicationscovid-19-eoeg2020
NY Charter Authorizers Guidance And Communicationscovid-19-eoeg2020
NYSED Guidance And Communications, , covid-19-eoeg2020 2021 2022
NYC DOE Special Education Guidance, covid-19-eoeg2020 2021
NYC DOE Guidance And Communications For Schools, covid-19-eoeg2020 2021
Resources for Familiescovid-19-remote-learning2020
Special Education And Mll/Ell Resourcescovid-19-remote-learning2020
Charter School Remote Learning Modelscovid-19-remote-learning2020
Technology Resources & Tipscovid-19-remote-learning2020